Team USA center Sylvia Fowles goes up for a dunk, which bounced out, during the second half of an Olympic women's exhibition basketball game with Brazil, Monday, July 16, 2012, in Washington. USA won 99-67. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) less

Team USA center Sylvia Fowles goes up for a dunk, which bounced out, during the second half of an Olympic women's exhibition basketball game with Brazil, Monday, July 16, 2012, in Washington. USA won 99-67. (AP ... more

Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press

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Team USA coach Geno Auriemma, right, talks with Diana Taurasi during the second half of an Olympic women's exhibition basketball game with Brazil, Monday, July 16, 2012, in Washington. USA won 99-67. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) less

Team USA coach Geno Auriemma, right, talks with Diana Taurasi during the second half of an Olympic women's exhibition basketball game with Brazil, Monday, July 16, 2012, in Washington. USA won 99-67. (AP ... more

Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press

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Taurasi nets 16, U.S. women routs Brazil

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WASHINGTON -- Lindsay Whalen showed that the U.S. women's Olympic basketball team has depth at point guard.

Whalen scored 21 points to lead the Americans to a 99-67 rout of Brazil on Monday night in an exhibition game. She started in place of Sue Bird, who left the team Sunday after the death of her stepfather Dennis.

"I wanted to come out and make sure we got some good looks, move the ball, be aggressive when the time presents itself," Whalen said. "I think it was a good start for us."

Bird, a fomer UConn star, practiced with the team this weekend and when she plans to rejoin the Olympic squad are unclear.

"I said take whatever amount of time you need, come back when you need to come back," said U.S. coach Geno Auriemma, UConn's coach. "She may or not play in the game in Manchester. She might meet us there or meet us in Istanbul, we'll know" Tuesday.

Bird was the starting point guard on the 2008 team and also played on the 2004 team.

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"It just goes to show we have really good depth," Tamika Catchings said of Whalen's play. "Lindsay did a really good job."

Former UConn star Diana Taurasi added 16 points for the U.S. in her first action since missing the last month of the WNBA season while recovering from a variety of injuries. She hit her first few shots and ran the point when Whalen was out. Taurasi finished with seven assists, Whalen had five.

"It felt pretty good," Taurasi said.

The team met with President Barack Obama in the locker room after the game. He arrived after their the game had ended, just before the men's game.

"The president is a huge basketball fan and everyone knows that," Auriemma said. "He came in to congratulate the players and wish them luck. He spent a lot more time than he wanted to down there just being a regular guy. Some of the players had already met him."

Obama sat courtside and watched the men's team play Brazil in the second game of the doubleheader.

Whalen had 10 points and three assists in the first quarter to help the Americans jump out to a quick 13-2 lead. The U.S. led 27-14 after one period and built the advantage to 51-31 at the half.

Iziane Castro Marques led Brazil with 21 points.

Several members of the USA team has dealt with injuries during the WNBA season.

One of them, Angel McCoughtry, was sidelined for the final few games of the first half of the season with a left knee sprain. She saw her first action against Brazil late in the third quarter. McCoughtry's knee looked fine when she missed a dunk attempt late in the fourth quarter.

Asjha Jones, who injured her left ankle last Wednesday was the only U.S. player not to see time.

The Americans had a busy morning visiting Arlington National Cemetary. Auriemma, Catchings, Taurasi and Swin Cash placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

The U.S. women's national team will head overseas to train in Manchester and Istanbul before getting to London on July 25.